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Chapter 274: Anyone Who Speaks Ill of Zhao Xing is a Traitor!
🕑 Added 2024-12-06 16:41:54 +0000 UTCZhao Xing carefully surveyed the surrounding environment after locating the hidden area.
It was an enormous underground cavern. The surrounding rock formations were seamlessly connected, with only a narrow vent above. Judging by the crumbling rocks scattered on the ground, the vent might have been created by years of weathering and erosion.
A harsh wind, charged with destructive force, blew through the vent.
"The intensity of this gale is remarkable. Who knows how many years it has eroded the underground, carving out such an expansive space."
The subterranean area was so vast that it could easily accommodate the construction of a small fortress.
Suspended midair in the middle of this space was a rectangular structure.
It measured 100 meters in length, 50 meters in height, and 35 meters in width.
Directly facing the wind tunnel was a majestic, ancient gate. The gate was inscribed with characters resembling wriggling shrimp and mysterious crescent-shaped patterns.
"This entire underground space has only one area protected by a formation. Judging by the marks, it was added recently."
"It seems to be an illusionary concealment formation set up by Yang Dang," Zhao Xing mused.
Thanks to his advanced Heavenly Eye technique, Zhao Xing could see through the formation effortlessly, unveiling the concealed object behind it. The Heavenly Eye was already a top-tier skill.
"Let’s have one of the avatars test it out," Zhao Xing thought.
After breaching the city defenses, he had deployed numerous avatars to search for hidden treasures. One avatar, skilled in evasion techniques, had quickly tracked down the vault hinted at in his divinations.
As the avatar approached, a strong force repelled it.
"Is that a Yin Wind?" Zhao Xing muttered, eyeing the distorted, shadowy gate obstructed by the gust.
"This isn’t something Yang Dang added. It’s emanating from the vault itself," Zhao Xing concluded.
"The intensity of this Yin Wind is enough to kill even a Fifth-Rank Life Soul cultivator."
Though just an avatar, Zhao Xing showed no fear of such a force. His form moved steadily forward.
As he pushed through the Yin Wind, a faint green light suddenly flickered amidst the gusts.
"Boom!"
The avatar shuddered violently.
The green ghostly flames appeared almost transparent and did not burn outwardly. Instead, they seeped into the straw puppet avatar, targeting the soul core within.
"Ah, ghost flames!"
"Now, this is interesting!" Zhao Xing’s eyes lit up. Ghost flames were unique in that they burned only soul-related objects, including Life Souls.
However, controlling ghost flames was an exceedingly difficult task.
As the saying goes: "Lonely Yin cannot grow, and pure Yang cannot thrive."
Summoning ghost flames for combat was a near-impossible feat.
"Just a wisp of ghost flames, and it dares to challenge me—"
Zhao Xing’s words were cut short as his grass puppet avatar exploded on the ground.
"Interesting. This is quite the high-level flame. Could it be Six Ding Divine Fire? Profound Yin Ghost Flame? Surely not something as terrifying as Nine Yin Nether Flame or Taiyin True Fire?"
"Let’s probe further!"
His interest piqued, Zhao Xing dispatched more avatars toward the site.
At the same time, he issued orders to investigate Yang Dang’s properties thoroughly.
"Li Gan, confiscate all of Yang Dang’s assets and secure them. No one is allowed near without my explicit permission. Send any documentation or records directly to me. I suspect he may have connections with the rebel lords in neighboring territories."
"Understood," Li Gan replied dutifully.
By now, Li Gan no longer commanded troops. His abilities weren’t up to the task.
With the Yuan Gui and Yuan Yu armies under Zhao Xing’s command, alongside parts of the Yuan He army, Li Gan’s standing among the military ranks had diminished.
Fortunately, his early loyalty to Zhao Xing kept him employed as the commander of Zhao Xing’s personal guard.
"Let’s see what Yang Dang has been up to in recent years, especially what materials he’s consulted in the Earth Mirror," Zhao Xing muttered, activating the device and heading to the Beifeng County administration building.
"Yang Dang, Marquis of Beifeng, granted his title in the year 145 of the Dingxin Era. At the time, the court awarded the entirety of Beifeng County as his fief due to its harsh and barren conditions."
"In this territory, the Yang family ruled as if they were emperors. There were no other significant powerhouses in the county."
"For decades, Yang Dang kept a low profile. Even intelligence reports from Lord Luo’s network didn’t flag him as a potential rebel. Despite being at the Fourth Rank, his combat strength was rated as ‘mediocre.’"
"The evaluation likely stemmed from his reserved behavior and advanced age," Zhao Xing noted, shaking his head.
"How utterly wrong. Yang Dang is far from a weak Fourth Rank."
From the battle for Beifeng County, Yang Dang’s martial prowess had proven exceptional, deserving a rating of "outstanding."
Particularly remarkable was his Life Soul. Typically, Fourth Rank cultivators only practiced soul refinement but hadn’t begun soul cultivation.
Except for rare cases like priests or prodigies like Zhao Xing, most officials’ soul cultivation lagged behind their physical advancement.
Yet Yang Dang had achieved Fourth Rank Perfection in his Life Soul and exhibited extraordinary resistance against Zhao Xing’s Dream Travel technique.
It had taken over fifteen minutes to kill him in a dream state!
"In the past thirty years, Yang Dang purchased numerous ancient texts, primarily historical records," Zhao Xing observed while scanning the Earth Mirror.
"It seems Yang Dang had discovered that underground vault and was working to decode its secrets."
Military officers studying history was not uncommon. Without Zhao Xing’s discovery of the vault, such purchases wouldn’t have raised suspicion.
Furthermore, Yang Dang’s secluded and cautious lifestyle kept him off the radar of major intelligence networks.
"A cautious man like him. Why would he risk rebellion with King Liang?"
Zhao Xing set aside the Earth Mirror and turned his attention to the vault.
One by one, ten more avatars entered the underground space.
"Boom, boom!"
Each one disintegrated within 100 meters of the gate, consumed by the ghost flames.
"Looks like I can’t get through without my main soul," Zhao Xing muttered to himself.
He decided not to waste more avatars and instead focused on closely observing the surroundings.
Meanwhile, the confiscation of Yang Dang’s properties was completed.
All documents were categorized as classified and loaded onto a ship.
"My lord, the task is complete," Li Gan reported.
"Good," Zhao Xing nodded, swiftly boarding the vessel.
After an hour of analysis, the findings were clear.
"So, it’s written in the ancient Han Dynasty script?"
"According to the gate’s inscriptions and Yang Dang’s collected materials, the underground vault was left behind by the Nether Soul Sect of the ancient Han Dynasty."
"The Nether Soul Sect—one of the ten great divine sects of ancient times," Zhao Xing murmured, enlightened.
"It seems this is a Nether Soul Sect ruin."
Many of the ten great sects from antiquity had failed to preserve their legacies and had vanished into the annals of history.
"The Nether Soul Sect, like the Dream God Sect, focused on soul cultivation. That path is fraught with risks, often leading to complete obliteration without even reaching the Netherworld," Zhao Xing mused.
"The presence of such a high-level divine sect’s relic suggests this site holds significant treasures."
This revelation simplified matters.
In his previous life during the Spirit Qi Era, numerous ancient ruins had surfaced due to geological shifts. Players explored countless tombs and ruins, turning them into game dungeons.
"Beifeng County must have been a Nether Soul Sect outpost in the past."
"The vault below likely served as the outpost’s treasure repository."
Gathering sufficient equipment from the Hunyuan warship, Zhao Xing ventured underground himself.
Aside from the two avatars stationed at Xuantian Academy and Kunyuan Academy, all his remaining avatars were summoned to the site.
"Collect!"
Zhao Xing withdrew his avatars into his Pure Essence Space.
"Seven-Star Life Soul, unite!"
Within his Sea of Consciousness, seven major souls fused into one.
"Calm Wind Beads!"
Ten azure beads floated up and shot toward the ancient gate.
These Seventh-Rank Superior artifacts—Calm Wind Beads—were Zhao Xing’s trump card.
Ten Calm Wind Beads hovered around the vault.
“Whoosh—whoosh—”
The purple glow of the gate flickered, and the fierce winds were continuously absorbed by the Calm Wind Beads.
The intensity of the Yin Wind weakened significantly, no longer posing a threat to Fifth-Rank Life Souls.
“Huodou, go!”
From behind Zhao Xing, several mechanical puppets resembling black hounds emerged.
The puppets, named Huodou, were also Seventh-Rank Superior artifacts.
Huodou puppets had a unique trait: they could devour flames. Zhao Xing deployed twenty of them, all attuned to Yin elements, making them perfect for neutralizing the surrounding ghost flames.
“—”
The ghost flames divided into twenty slender streams, flowing into the two-meter-tall Huodou puppets.
The black metallic bodies of the puppets gained a faint green hue as the flames were absorbed.
“The strength of the Yin Fire has dropped. It’s no longer enough to threaten Fourth-Rank Life Souls,” Zhao Xing analyzed.
He released another avatar to proceed further.
“Buzz—”
A sharp piercing force suddenly surged into the avatar, attacking its Life Soul directly.
“Clang! Clang—”
The Soul-Crushing Bell activated!
The attack, aimed at penetrating the Life Soul, was blocked by the bell’s protective resonance.
“Keep advancing!”
The avatar pushed forward.
Suddenly, its body dropped three meters as if crushed by an unseen weight.
This was pure spiritual oppression—an overwhelming pressure that felt as if a mountain was bearing down on Zhao Xing.
“Speed up!”
Zhao Xing abandoned this particular avatar, commanding it to rush into the gate’s boundary.
The avatar faced not only the crushing spiritual pressure but also an endless, bone-chilling force that pushed against it relentlessly.
“Pop—” The avatar’s body remained intact, but its soul fragment disintegrated.
“Impressive. It’s a five-element Yin Soul attack, all combined,” Zhao Xing muttered, retrieving a bottle of Primordial Soul Liquid to replenish his depleted soul energy.
“Whatever’s inside must be extraordinary,” Zhao Xing thought, his excitement growing.
The greater the difficulty, the greater his anticipation. Ordinary treasures no longer posed any challenge to him.
Artifacts like the Huodou and Calm Wind Beads, both Seventh-Rank treasures, were considered high-grade military supplies, but Zhao Xing could now requisition them at will.
Thanks to his authority over the Tianhe Prefecture Transport Division, Zhao Xing had resources that someone like Yang Dang could only dream of.
“Close enough,” Zhao Xing decided after conducting over a dozen experiments, gradually discerning the conditions for entry.
Finally, it was time for his main body to take action.
Unlike the avatars, Zhao Xing’s main body boasted unparalleled soul strength.
Donned in Eighth-Rank Superior Soul Armor, reinforced by the Soul-Crushing Bell, and with the Huodou puppets and Calm Wind Beads suppressing the defenses, Zhao Xing successfully approached the glowing purple gate.
The purple glow coursed across the surface of the gate, its energy still active even after countless years.
“Boundary-Piercing Nails,” Zhao Xing whispered.
From a large chest on his back, he retrieved nine intricately patterned, arm-thick nails.
Though called nails, these tools were massive, almost as thick as a person’s arm.
“Go!”
Zhao Xing drove them into the purple glow.
“Zzzz—”
The nine Seventh-Rank Superior Boundary-Piercing Nails began spinning, drilling deeper into the barrier.
For an entire hour, the nails rotated and dug into the energy field.
Finally—
“Boom!”
Unable to withstand the relentless assault, the purple glow dissipated, and the heavy stone gate creaked open.
The thick stone surface bore mottled scars, etched by the relentless passage of time.
A green carpet of moss now covered once-grand carvings, rendering their once-intricate designs blurred and faint.
The runes etched into the walls had dimmed, though traces of the ancient mechanisms were still faintly discernible, exuding a weak aura.
Stepping into the vault, Zhao Xing was greeted by a musty, ancient scent. Shelves lined the sides, laden with fractured weapons and fragile, crumbling books.
“Most of these are beyond salvage, unable to withstand the erosion of time,” Zhao Xing observed.
“In general, materials of the Seventh Rank start to degrade after fifty thousand years. Even with specialized preservation techniques, they rarely last beyond a hundred thousand years.”
“Considering the Han Dynasty era dates back over five hundred thousand years, even finding remnants here is a testament to the grandeur of their divine sects,” Zhao Xing mused.
With a wave of his hand, a surge of astral wind swept through the vault.
The powerful gust reduced many of the remaining items to particles, breaking them down completely.
“Anything that survives this is at least an Eighth-Rank treasure,” Zhao Xing remarked, his anticipation mounting.
As the gale subsided, the piles of debris vanished into dust.
“Hmm? Something’s here!” Zhao Xing’s eyes lit up as a streak of purple light suddenly emerged, darting toward the exit.
“And it’s a big one!”
An artifact capable of independent movement was a clear sign of possessing an Artifact Spirit.
“Not so fast!”
Zhao Xing immediately cast the Sky Net.
“Swish—”
The Seventh-Rank Sky Net was pierced through by the purple light as if it were paper, unable to slow it down in the slightest.
“Go!”
Zhao Xing unleashed a Thunder Technique, his Heavenly Thunder Finger striking the purple light and knocking it off course.
“Clang! Clang! Clang!”
The Soul-Crushing Bell resonated, its power rippling outward.
The first layer of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit Technique operated at full capacity. Zhao Xing was giving it his all.
“Zzzz—”
The purple light slowed at last, revealing the artifact within.
It was a divine lamp, shaped like a lotus flower.
The lamp was pitch black, with a purple crescent moon glowing at its center.
As the Soul-Crushing Bell resonated, a faint humanoid figure could be seen struggling within the purple moon.
“Rakh-ghul! Sigr-rah!”
A strange voice echoed from within the moon.
Zhao Xing couldn’t understand the words but continued his assault.
“Bhan-ghul! Sigr-rah—”
The voice weakened as Zhao Xing’s methods pressed on.
Gradually, Zhao Xing understood the intent behind the voice—it was essentially pleading for surrender.
“Recognize me as your master, and I’ll spare you!” Zhao Xing declared, dripping a drop of his blood toward the purple lotus lamp.
He was confident that the Artifact Spirit would understand his intention. Blood recognition was a common ancient method for subduing Artifact Spirits. Even without shared language, the act was unmistakable.
“Zzzz—@#%!—”
The voice within the crescent moon continued its unintelligible rambling.
Seeing it refuse the blood contract, Zhao Xing sneered.
“Don’t waste my time. Your choices are simple: submission or obliteration.”
He activated the Soul-Crushing Bell once more.
“Clang! Clang! Clang—”
The Artifact Spirit’s resistance wavered under the relentless attack.
A surge of soul power rippled outward, cycling like tidal waves, flowing continuously toward the purple crescent moon.
“Buzz~”
At last, the Artifact Spirit, finding no alternative, reluctantly absorbed Zhao Xing's drop of blood.
“Buzz~”
The purple glow dimmed gradually, and a faint connection was established.
Zhao Xing closed his eyes, allowing the Artifact Spirit’s transmitted images, texts, and sounds to flow into his consciousness.
These were not spells or secret arts but rather writings and phonetics from the Han Dynasty.
In just a short moment, Zhao Xing grasped the basics and could now communicate with the Artifact Spirit.
“What’s your name? And what exactly is this lamp?” Zhao Xing asked.
Within the crescent moon, the shadow of a woman clad in a mage’s robe appeared and spoke, “Master, my name is Chuchu. I am the Artifact Spirit of the Purple Moon Soul Lamp.”
“Purple Moon Soul Lamp?” Zhao Xing’s eyes lit up. He sent an avatar to retrieve the lamp, holding it carefully for inspection. “So it’s this treasure.”
“This is excellent. I already have soul-defense treasures like my Soul Armor, but I lacked a soul-attack treasure. This Purple Moon Soul Lamp perfectly fills that gap.”
Although Zhao Xing could wield the Soul-Crushing Bell for soul attacks, using a treasure was far preferable to risking unprotected combat.
“Master, would you like me to explain the Soul Lamp’s functions?” Chuchu asked.
“Yes, go ahead,” Zhao Xing nodded. “Tell me everything.”
“The Purple Moon Soul Lamp has four primary abilities,” Chuchu began.
“First, when the soul leaves the body, holding the Purple Moon Soul Lamp stabilizes the soul’s form. As long as the lamp remains lit, the soul cannot be extinguished. All attacks will be absorbed by the Soul Lamp until its energy is depleted.”
“Second, the Purple Moon Soul Lamp acts as an anchor, guiding the soul back to the body. It greatly enhances the mobility of an external soul, ensuring that even at great distances, the soul can find its way back.”
“Third, the Soul Lamp is crafted from rare materials known as Purple Yin Soul Crystals. Using the lamp amplifies the power of soul-related attacks. For instance, the secret arts Master used earlier would have their strength magnified several times when cast through the lamp.”
“Fourth, the lamp itself contains high-grade arrays capable of casting five types of spells: Nine Yin Fire, Supreme Yin Wind, Soul Piercing Stab, Soul Burial Mountain, and Nether River.”
After listening to Chuchu’s detailed explanation, Zhao Xing found that the functions closely aligned with his expectations.
Holding the divine lamp, Zhao Xing ventured deeper into the vault.
“Chuchu, do you know if there are hidden compartments or secret caches in here?” Zhao Xing inquired.
“There are none left,” Chuchu replied, shaking her head. “This inner vault once housed several treasures, but I can’t recall how long ago that was.”
“This vault is anchored by the Purple Moon Soul Lamp. Before Master arrived, there was another person who lingered outside for thirty years, but he was never able to enter.”
Zhao Xing nodded in understanding.
The cache belonging to the Nether Soul Sect had both inner and outer sections. It seemed Yang Dang had accessed the outer cache and spent decades using the Purple Moon Soul Lamp’s defensive array as training to temper his soul, achieving Fourth-Rank Perfection. His Life Soul was far sturdier than those of ordinary Fourth-Rank cultivators.
However, Yang Dang lacked Zhao Xing’s overwhelming strength. His Life Soul wasn’t as formidable, nor did he have the vast array of treasures needed to suppress the Purple Moon Soul Lamp’s power.
In the end, even in death, Yang Dang failed to open the inner vault.
And even if he had succeeded, his strength would have been insufficient to subdue the Artifact Spirit.
“Yang Dang, you rebelled at just the right time,” Zhao Xing remarked, surveying the underground chamber. “If not for your rebellion, I would never have obtained this treasure.”
The vault beneath Beifeng County had existed for centuries, hidden and untouched. Only in recent decades had Yang Dang accidentally discovered it.
If Zhao Xing hadn’t been tasked with subduing Yang Dang, where else would he have obtained an Eighth-Rank Superior treasure like the Purple Moon Soul Lamp?
Eighth-Rank Superior treasures related to warships or souls were as valuable as Ninth-Rank treasures of other types.
“Even the Grand Xia Kingdom doesn’t have treasures of this caliber, yet a nobody like Yang Dang did. This proves one thing: when confiscating property in the future, I need to be more thorough. Never underestimate minor rebels,” Zhao Xing concluded with a wry smile.
After conducting a meticulous search of the vault, Zhao Xing returned to the surface.
The campaign against Yang Dang concluded on March 17th.
With Yang Dang dead, the rebels in Tianhe Prefecture were essentially wiped out. The remaining groups were small-time troublemakers—those who had just declared rebellion only to be captured in their own homes by county inspectors.
“There’s no real opposition left to quell. It’s time to return,” Zhao Xing decided.
After a month and a half of constant fighting, he hadn’t taken a single break.
Governor He Zhengchen, recognizing Zhao Xing’s capability, entrusted him with greater responsibilities: commanding the Yuankui Army, Yuanyu Army, Yuanhe Army, City Guard Army, Yin Soldiers and Generals, and the Transport Division.
“When I return to the prefecture capital, I’ll summarize the campaign report for Lord Luo. I wonder how the situation is in other regions,” Zhao Xing mused as he stood on the viewing platform of the tower ship, the capital faintly visible on the horizon.
Back in the prefecture capital, Governor He Zhengchen, accompanied by civil and military officials, came out to greet him.
“Greetings, Governor. Greetings, esteemed officials,” Zhao Xing saluted respectfully.
“Chen’an, there’s no need for such formalities,” He Zhengchen stepped forward and clasped Zhao Xing’s hands warmly. This was his first time meeting Zhao Xing in person.
He never imagined that this young man could quell the chaos in Tianhe Prefecture in just over a month.
Without Zhao Xing, He Zhengchen feared Tianhe Prefecture would have spiraled into turmoil.
If he had waited to mobilize forces from the capital, countless lives would have been lost, and the rebel forces would have entrenched themselves.
The longer the delay, the stronger the rebels would have grown. Even with Tianhe’s City Guard Army and Yin Soldiers, He Zhengchen predicted a prolonged and devastating conflict.
“Chen’an, you should take some time to rest,” He Zhengchen said, concerned. “I hear you haven’t slept for over a month.”
“Thank you for your concern, Governor,” Zhao Xing replied with a bow. “However, I oversee the Five Prefectures, and there are still four other prefectures waiting for me to—clean up. I dare not slack off.”
He Zhengchen, along with officials Zhang Ping and Wu Xuanying, twitched slightly at Zhao Xing’s choice of words.
This young man was blunt to a fault, even when speaking the truth.
But there was no denying his remarkable resilience.
For over a month, Zhao Xing had waged battles across multiple regions and still exuded boundless energy.
“Even if you can endure, your soldiers need rest,” He Zhengchen reasoned. “Allow the troops to regroup and recover before planning your next move.”
“Understood, Governor. I will comply,” Zhao Xing replied. He had only mentioned his intentions as a precautionary statement, signaling his readiness for further action.
In truth, another campaign wasn’t feasible at the moment.
First, the troops needed rest and reorganization. The newly acquired forces required integration and refinement.
Second, mobilizing forces across prefectures was a complex process. While Zhao Xing could act alone, moving tens of thousands of troops required authorization and coordination with Lord Luo.
Third, Zhao Xing needed to analyze intelligence carefully. Reckless actions could lead to disastrous consequences, nullifying his achievements in Tianhe Prefecture and tarnishing his hard-earned reputation.
Back at the prefecture capital’s government office, Zhao Xing declined the banquet and immediately began reporting to Lord Luo.
“Buzz~” The Earth Mirror activated, and Lord Luo’s projection materialized.
“Subordinate greets Lord Luo,” Zhao Xing saluted.
“Zhao Xing, what’s the status of Tianhe Prefecture?” Lord Luo inquired.
“Reporting to Lord Luo, the rebellion in Tianhe Prefecture has been largely quelled. What remains is calming the populace, selecting capable officials, and filling vacant positions,” Zhao Xing replied.
“You’ve been swift,” Lord Luo praised. “Tianhe Prefecture stabilized in just over a month.”
“This was only possible with your support. I dare not take full credit,” Zhao Xing replied humbly.
“You may not claim credit, but your reputation precedes you. Be cautious,” Lord Luo warned.
“For now, stay in Tianhe Prefecture for a few days of rest. I’ll upgrade your Earth Mirror to a personalized version. You can use it to access intelligence and communicate with others.”
“Half a day later, visit the Lihuo Dao Academy in Tianhe Prefecture to collect it,” Lord Luo instructed.
“Yes, my lord,” Zhao Xing acknowledged.
The call ended, and Zhao Xing made his way to the Tianhe branch of the Lihuo Dao Academy.
This academy, primarily serving military purposes, was small and did not accept students. It was staffed exclusively by military officers to maintain its operations.
Half a day later, Zhao Xing received the upgraded Personal Earth Mirror from the branch’s head, Peng Yu.
The new version enhanced the original’s communication functions, intelligence access, and data storage, adding a secure communication group for strategic discussions.
“Lord Luo’s strategic chat group?” Zhao Xing murmured.
Countless messages flickered across the communication group interface, overwhelming in volume and brevity.
Judging by the density of information, Zhao Xing estimated that only cultivators of Third Rank or higher could process it effectively.
“In other words, this group is composed entirely of high-ranking elites?” Zhao Xing marveled.
Previously, Lord Luo had only provided a list of names. Now, Zhao Xing had real-time communication privileges, granting him direct involvement in high-level strategy.
Curious, Zhao Xing scanned the member list. Including himself, the group contained only 150 individuals.
“This must be a specialized group,” Zhao Xing concluded.
The total number of high-ranking individuals in Pinghai Prefecture couldn’t possibly be this low.
Moreover, Liu Tianning wasn’t in the group.
It became evident that these 150 members were only part of a specific area or tasked with a particular set of operations.
Zhao Xing observed the stream of information for a while and noticed that most of it pertained to the twelve eastern prefectures of Pinghai Prefecture.
“This is likely a group dedicated to handling affairs in the eastern twelve prefectures,” he surmised.
“I see some notable names here—Lord of Mingyue Prefecture, Ye Yukong; Lord of Longyuan Prefecture, Xuanyuan Po Jun; the Sword King, Jin Feng; the Scarlet Snow King, Li Bingxue; and the mighty General of Jinwu, Yang Wanli...”
Zhao Xing couldn’t help but mentally quip, “Even these mighty figures are now in the same group as me? How curious.”
Among the members, there were even Second-Rank experts.
Despite his intrigue, Zhao Xing refrained from posting anything. Being new, he prioritized observing the dynamics of the group.
However, Zhao Xing’s inclusion in the group did not go unnoticed.
His profile information revealed that he was merely a Third-Rank Patrol Inspector for the Five Eastern Prefectures of Pinghai Prefecture, Waterway Transfer Commissioner of Tianhe Prefecture, and a Marquis of Honor.
These titles, while official, were unimpressive in this setting. His noble title was third-class honorary, his Transfer Commissioner position ranked only Fifth Grade Upper, and even his Patrol Inspector role was Fourth Grade Upper—barely reaching the threshold of consideration.
Compared to the elite in the group, it was as though a Chihuahua had wandered into a wolf pack—an odd sight indeed.
“Did Lord Luo make a mistake?” someone questioned.
In the Tianhu Prefecture, before a vast blue lake, a hulking man clad in gold dragon-patterned armor and carrying an enormous blade taller than himself furrowed his brows.
This was Yang Wanli, a perfected Third-Rank cultivator stationed at a secret martial gateway within Pinghai Prefecture. Even King Liang wasn’t aware of the small-scale passage that existed here.
Yang Wanli, as General of Jinwu, belonged to one of the Emperor’s three elite guard corps, a position of great importance.
For someone of his caliber, the sudden inclusion of an unremarkable figure like Zhao Xing in their group naturally raised concerns.
Scanning Zhao Xing’s profile, Yang Wanli couldn’t fathom how someone like this had been granted access.
“Has Lord Luo been overwhelmed with work? How could someone of this rank be part of such a critical task force?”
Despite his doubts, Yang Wanli dared not openly question the decision. After all, Lord Luo was a First-Rank cultivator—a status far above his own.
Instead, he opted to raise the matter privately.
“Lord Luo,” Yang Wanli greeted respectfully as he addressed the projection of his superior.
“What is it, Wanli?” Lord Luo asked.
“Just now, the Ninth Eastern Task Force gained a new member. Did you authorize this?” Yang Wanli inquired.
“Yes, I did,” Lord Luo confirmed with a nod.
“Could there have been an error? Why bring in someone of the Fourth Rank?” Yang Wanli pressed.
“If he’s here, it’s because he has the strength to warrant his presence,” Lord Luo replied firmly. “Your focus should remain on guarding the Bihai Passage.”
“Yes, my lord,” Yang Wanli acquiesced, bowing deeply as the projection faded.
“Even Fourth-Rank cultivators wouldn’t survive in the presence of a Third-Rank unless they had the strength to kill,” Yang Wanli mused. “It seems this Zhao Xing must at least be capable of defeating weaker Third-Rank experts.”
Meanwhile, in Longyuan Prefecture, the lord, Xuanyuan Po Jun, stood before a command table, issuing orders when he noticed the new addition to the Ninth Task Force.
“Oh, it’s the young man who killed the King of Tianxia,” he murmured.
Xuanyuan Po Jun’s memory flickered back to a report from over a month ago.
Zhao Xing’s slaying of the King of Tianxia had been a widely circulated piece of intelligence. As a Second-Rank feudal lord, Xuanyuan Po Jun had naturally been briefed on the incident.
At the time, he hadn’t given it much thought, as the report detailed the deployment of fifty Hunyuan Warships and the activation of the Lihuo Formation.
“Tianhe Prefecture was subdued so swiftly. It seems Zhao Xing himself isn’t weak,” Xuanyuan Po Jun concluded, shelving the information as less urgent.
After all, he had more pressing concerns—namely, the East Sea rebellion led by the aquatic insurgents Hong Yuanba and Hong Yuanshou.
In a distant eastern region, atop a snow-covered mountain near the coast, a woman in a purple mage’s robe and exuding a frosty demeanor closed her Earth Mirror.
“So, even Liu Tianning’s disciple managed to get into the Ninth Task Force,” she remarked.
“I wonder how much of Liu Tianning’s skill he’s inherited,” she mused before returning to her duties.
The moment Zhao Xing joined the task force, many of the 149 members took notice. While only a handful paid closer attention, the majority remained focused on their tasks.
Zhao Xing observed for a while before closing his Earth Mirror.
“King Liang’s forces are focused on the northern and southern fronts, leaving the eastern and western regions sparsely defended, aside from their efforts to control and blockade martial gateways,” Zhao Xing analyzed.
“It seems King Liang plans to let Hong Yuanba and Hong Yuanshou create chaos in the east,” he continued.
“In the west, he’s stirring dissent among the enslaved Nur Army.”
“The Nur Army’s foreign generals despise Liu Si’s policies, which created the system of secondary and peripheral ranks. Over the past two centuries, this system has subjected them to systemic oppression and injustice.”
“They’ve been denied equivalent rewards for their achievements and punished doubly for their failures.”
“Meanwhile, Da Yuan, Da Tong, and Anping prefectures form the core base for Lord Luo’s resistance against King Liang. For now, I don’t need to concern myself with Nanyang County…”
“From what I see, King Liang’s main army remains inactive, while other feudal lords are taking center stage.”
“He’s hesitant to launch a full-scale assault because his home base in Luliang Prefecture is under insufficient control. For now, he’s trying to pressure Emperor Jing into executing Liu Si and recalling his forces to Luliang.”
Processing this wealth of intelligence, Zhao Xing took a moment to consolidate his thoughts.
“Hm?” Zhao Xing’s eyes suddenly snapped open, his analysis interrupted.
Moments later, he closed them again, switching his focus.
At the Xuantian Academy, in the tranquil Mirror Lake Courtyard, Zhao Xing’s avatar opened its eyes, returning to activity.
Since the rebellion in Tianhe Prefecture, Zhao Xing’s avatar in the Tianyuan Prefecture had been offline, neglecting classes entirely.
This hadn’t been an issue, as the chaos surrounding King Liang’s rebellion overshadowed minor academic matters.
However, today, a large crowd had gathered outside the Mirror Lake Courtyard.
“Has the Tianyuan Branch of the Xuantian Academy fallen into disarray? That seems unlikely—Li Boqian and Wang Tianzhi are still here,” Zhao Xing muttered, stepping out to investigate.
“Doctor Zhao!”
“Teacher!”
“Master, please meet with us!”
“Master Zhao is incredible!”
The voices outside were chaotic. Some students perched on walls, others climbed trees. A quick glance revealed thousands of people surrounding the courtyard.
“What’s going on?” Zhao Xing wondered, stepping out.
The moment Zhao Xing appeared, the crowd grew even more excited.
“He’s out! Doctor Zhao is out!”
“The master is truly divine!”
“Teacher, please take me as your disciple!”
“Lord Zhao, I’m your long-lost brother!”
“Shut up! Have some shame!”
Faced with the eager and emotional crowd, Zhao Xing quickly pieced together the situation.
News of his success in subduing Tianhe Prefecture and slaying the King of Tianxia had reached the Xuantian Academy in Tianyuan Prefecture.
Due to the immediate isolation protocols enacted by various counties and prefectures, even military-grade Earth Mirrors had limited communication capabilities.
Sending messages via Yin Spirits was even more difficult. Cross-regional communication required high-ranking Yin Spirits, a rare resource.
Thus, by March, news of Zhao Xing’s achievements had only recently spread to the academy, reaching the mid- and lower-ranking students and officials.
With the information disseminated through more primitive means, the details had become heavily distorted.
In truth, Zhao Xing’s strategy involved using the Dreamwalking Technique to eliminate key commanders of the King of Tianxia’s forces.
He had then deployed Hunyuan Warships to bait the enemy, enduring three days and nights of battle.
Finally, with the assistance of True Lord Tianyang, he had executed the finishing blow using the Heavenly Thunder Finger.
However, by the time the story reached the academy, it had been simplified to a dramatic tale:
On February 3rd, the King of Tianxia declared rebellion. By February 4th, Zhao Xing marched out of the city and obliterated the king with a single Heavenly Thunder Finger.
Especially notable were Lin Yuejia and Liu Hui, two of the earliest students to hear Zhao Xing’s lecture on the Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Celestial Cycle. Their enthusiasm for promoting his teachings was unmatched.
“Cloud Gate suppresses Tianhe! One finger to obliterate the Rebel King! Master Zhao is mighty!”
“The King of Tianxia commanded an army of three million, reduced to ashes with a single move! This is our Xuantian Academy’s Doctor of Canonical Studies, Marquis Zhao Xing!”
During one of Lin Yuejia’s promotional speeches, someone in the crowd raised a question. “Who are you talking about? I’ve never heard of this person.”
“What? You’ve never heard of Doctor Zhao?” Lin Yuejia stared at the questioner with disdain. “Have you, perchance, heard of the Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Celestial Cycle?”
“Well, I’ve heard of it, vaguely.”
“Humph, and you still don’t know? What backwater village did you crawl out of?” Lin Yuejia’s condescension was palpable.
“Damn it! Who does he think he is? Why should I know about him?” The questioned man, now irate, rolled up his sleeves and prepared to argue with Lin Yuejia. “Today, I—”
Before he could finish, he noticed the menacing stares of the crowd surrounding him.
Standing atop the platform, Lin Yuejia pointed an accusatory finger. “This man doesn’t know Master Zhao, yet dares to speak ill of him. He must be a rebel!”
“Brothers, let’s grab him and deliver him to Master Zhao at Mirror Lake Courtyard for judgment!”
“What? Hey, what are you doing—"
“Stop, don’t hit me!”
And so, this unlucky fellow, named Xing Kai, was dragged away by Lin Yuejia and Liu Hui.
He wasn’t the only one. A dozen others met a similar fate, including three or four Fifth-Rank preaching masters, who were also tied up and paraded to the entrance of Mirror Lake Courtyard.
Their hands were bound behind their backs, and thorny branches were fastened to them as they were forced to kneel outside the gate.
When Zhao Xing called Lin Yuejia over to inquire about the situation, he couldn’t help but feel speechless.
Since when had his influence grown to such an extent?
“Teacher!” Lin Yuejia knelt before him again, pleading earnestly, “Please take me as your disciple. I’m willing to follow you to Tianhe Prefecture to quell the rebellion!”
Liu Hui also knelt, eyes filled with reverence. “Teacher, please bring me along as well!”
“I feel the same!” Wu Chun, another student, dropped to his knees.
Zhao Xing looked at the group before him, momentarily at a loss for words.
Among them was Wu Chun, the same boy Lin Yuejia had chastised during class.
And Liu Hui, who used to be a disciple of Zhou Cheng. How had he ‘defected’ to Zhao Xing’s side?
With a loud rustling sound, the dark mass of the gathered crowd fell to their knees.
No one cared anymore that Zhao Xing was part of the Self School. That detail was now irrelevant.
All they knew was that Zhao Xing had destroyed the King of Tianxia using the authentic Xuantian Thunder Technique—the Heavenly Thunder Finger!
A genuine Heaven School spell!
Who would dare claim Master Zhao wasn’t a member of the Heaven School?
Clearly, such claims could only come from treacherous spies trying to sow discord!
As the crowd knelt, Zhao Xing spotted a handful of people still standing.
Three of them were also Doctors of Canonical Studies, each holding a copy of his book, Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Celestial Cycle.
Among them was Liu Hui’s former teacher, Zhou Cheng.
So, it wasn’t that Liu Hui had ‘defected’—his teacher had also ‘defected’ alongside him.
“Greetings, Marquis,” Zhou Cheng said, bowing respectfully.
“Greetings, Marquis,” the other two Doctors of Canonical Studies echoed, bowing in unison.
Zhao Xing, after pondering for a moment, understood that there was likely more to this situation. His slaying of the King of Tianxia alone couldn’t have been enough to win over these three Doctors of Canonical Studies.
After all, what did combat prowess have to do with their field? That was mere brute strength, irrelevant to scholarly endeavors.
Zhao Xing returned their bows politely and said, “Esteemed Doctors, please come in for a discussion.”
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